Venom: The Last Dance is the latest film project in Sony’s Spider-Verse, simultaneously concluding the story arc of Eddie Brock/Venom on the big screen. In this final journey, Venom must confront the monstrous Xenophage, summoned by the god Knull, who comes to Earth seeking a special genetic code hidden within Eddie. Knull is considered the “father” of all symbiotic life forms in the universe. This genetic code is essential for releasing the Klyntar planet’s essence, ultimately leading to the domination of Earth and other realms.
The Last Dance wraps up with Knull’s defeat, as Venom chooses to sacrifice himself to stop Xenophage and destroy the genetic code. However, in the mid-credit scene, Knull remains as a lingering threat. The malevolent deity emerges as the King in Black, sending a dire warning to all of humanity.
What does the King in Black signify in the original Marvel Comics, and what potential developments might arise for the Spider-Verse in the future?
In the comics, King in Black is the title bestowed upon the god Knull by the Celestials—powerful entities that have brought light and creativity to the Marvel universe. The emergence of the Celestials has forced Knull into the darkest corners of the universe. Known also as the Onyx King, King in Black plays a role similar to that of the Beyonders/King in White/Ivory Kings, maintaining balance and order across the universe.
However, Knull has shirked the responsibilities of a King in Black, openly defying the Celestials as he brings darkness to the realms of light. Wielding the All-Black Sword, Knull has slain a Celestial, and his actions plunged the universe into chaos due to his malevolent nature.
Although Knull is a character from the Spider-Verse, there are numerous connections to this character that have appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The Celestial’s head, which Knull later transforms into the Knowhere planet—featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy films—was once a significant part of the Marvel universe. Meanwhile, the All-Black Necrosword has been used by the villain Gorr, who is the main antagonist in Thor: Love & Thunder.
Exploring the King in Black Event in Marvel Comics
From the depths of darkness, Knull has created various symbiotic creatures—who later revolted against him as they could not accept the oppressive desire to extinguish the light and life of the universe. The symbiotes imprisoned Knull within the Klyntar dimension (meaning “home” in the symbiotic language), and he was only released by Carnage during the Absolute Carnage event in 2019. This event paved the way for a larger conflict—King in Black took place just a year later.
Knull escaped from Klyntar, wiping out various planets before invading Earth with an army composed of thousands of symbiotes and a Celestial under his control. Venom and Captain America gathered all superheroes from the Marvel universe to fight back, including the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and many others.
However, Knull’s power was overwhelming, leaving many superheroes with devastating injuries. Even Sentry, Marvel’s “Superman,” had to retreat from Knull’s overwhelming abilities, especially after merging with The Void itself. After seizing the cosmic throne, the malevolent deity continued to engulf Earth in complete darkness. Knull’s primary target was Dylan, the son of Eddie Brock. This is why he sought to absorb Venom and kill Eddie.
At this time, Dylan became the last hope of Earth, as he possessed a unique essence capable of controlling and eliminating all forms of symbiotic life. Alongside Thor, Silver Surfer, Doctor Strange, Jean Grey, and Iron Man, Dylan freed the superheroes and Celestials from Knull’s clutches. During this time, Enigma Force/the Light God was reborn and chose Eddie Brock to become the new Captain Universe. Dylan’s light led to the eventual downfall of Knull. In the end, Venom had to unleash the Light God and destroy Knull using the Uni-Power.
After this conflict, Eddie Brock became the new God of the Symbiotes, while also taking on the title King in Black in the Marvel universe. Meanwhile, Dylan became the “new” Venom, inheriting his father’s legacy. King in Black can be seen as one of the largest and most spectacular crossover events in Marvel’s comic history.
How will Sony exploit the King in Black event on the big screen?
With a vast scale and a plethora of powerful “monsters,” as mentioned above, King in Black will pose a significant challenge for Sony Pictures. This is because the Spider-Verse still lacks strong superhero/villain figures, including Morbius, Madame Web, Vulture, and Kraven the Hunter. This is not to mention the unresolved farewell with Venom in The Last Dance, which has not yet revealed official Spider-Man versions in the Spider-Verse. Therefore, in the future, Sony will need to explore additional characters to bolster their roster before Knull escapes from Klyntar and seeks out this planet.
As the King in Black event features numerous superheroes that are currently “owned” by the MCU, such as the Avengers, Fantastic Four, or X-Men, it is not out of the question that Sony may allow Marvel Studios to “borrow” Knull’s character for future blockbuster films. Knull’s power and presence are entirely fitting for the role of a major antagonist akin to Thanos, Kang the Conqueror, or Doctor Doom.
The MCU is expected to close its storyline in 2027 with the blockbuster Avengers: Secret Wars. After that, it will enter a new phase with new characters, including new actors. Knull could potentially play a significant supporting role in this “final” phase, especially since Sony and Marvel Studios are currently collaborating in the case of Spider-Man played by Tom Holland.
Source: ScreenRant
